USA Mundane Forecast
for the four weeks beginning June 29, 2018If you are unfamiliar with the methods and interpretations of Sidereal mundane astrology, see my free book Sidereal Mundane Astrology. (A link to the current edition can always be found near the top of the Publications sub-forum.) For standard interpretations, see Chapter 8 of the new 15th Edition.

LONG-TERM (Solar Ingress) PATTERNS
The 12 months beginning January 15, 2018 are unstable, revolutionary, revising, remapping, anti-establishment, and often anti-government. Here are the highlights from the Capsolar (most of which have already been manifesting all year exactly as written in January):

Foreground SUN-VENUS-URANUS: Changes in foreign relations are a certainty. Shifting social values, including increased liberty in Venus matters. "Culture wars" kick up more intensely for the midterm elections. The voice of rebellion is concentrated on those in the highest office.

MOON conjoins MERCURY & SATURN. Expect economic narrowing and backtracking on the recovery: recession is not unthinkable. Capsolars had close Moon-Saturn aspects in 1819, 1837, and 2008, which should concern students of American money crises. Its record for violent inhumanity is heart-stopping. Climate destabilization will escalate faster in 2018 than in previous years, with tragic, life-smashing consequences.

Mercury + Saturn. Restrictions, delays, failures, & calamity in transportation & communication. Communication fails for technical reasons & because people stop listening to each other. Information flow is interrupted & rationed. Data integrity is increasingly doubted; cybersecurity is a greater priority than cyber-expansion. Commerce is interrupted: More newspapers go out of business, more small businesses close their doors.

Moon-Mercury: the media remains much of the story.

Moon-Saturn: hardship, narrowing, sacrifice, loss, sadness, with few causes for celebration. Bereavement, deprivation, disappointment, destructive assaults by people & nature; other hardship centers primarily on alienation and divisiveness. It will be a good year for undertakers.

The Arisolar (which lasts until July 16) is dormant for Washington, DC, but adds (until mid-July) a further edge of violence and hardship: Arisolar Moon squares Saturn (2°24' in eclipto) and Mars (a blisteringly tight 0°09' in mundo).

Cansolar (Jul 16)
By supplanting the Arisolar, Sun's Cancer ingress relieves us of the Moon-Mars + Moon-Saturn severity of the prior quarter. Worldwide, it also quiets the volatility of last year's worldwide Mars-Uranus Cansolar themes. The new Cansolar is more benign.

For Washington, Moon exactly rises (0°22') in 0°16' PVP square to Neptune, part of a Moon-Venus-Neptune PVP T-square. Saturn is widely foreground. This construct primarily suggests passionate waves of populism sweeping us toward the fall elections.

Moon foreground shows powerful response by the masses feeling strongly about things, the herd’s collective will surging up powerfully from mass mind. Human-interest stories move the public emotionally to an unusual degree and children are highlighted in the news (so, for example, the current story about immigrant children being separated from their families likely will continue). Moon-Neptune reiterates extreme waves of emotional reaction, fervor, herd-mind arousal, and even hysteria accompanied by confusion, disorientation, uncertainty, and an undermined sense of security. Venus-Neptune signals intense devotion, passionate belief, compelling fantasy or role-playing, and performance art; disillusionment, betrayed alliances, perceived offenses, and diplomatic embarrassment.

On July 16, the day of the Cansolar, Presidents Trump and Putin will meet in Helsinki, Finland. Russia's Cansolar has Pluto on Eastpoint: Significant shifts are expected, though this shouldn't be overstated since Pluto is angular in Moscow's Cansolar most years. For Helsinki, the Cansolar is dormant, with the Arisolar flowing through as prevailing Quarter chart. Saturn closely rises (1°02') and a 0°23' Mars-Pluto mundane conjunction is foreground. The "spotlight on leaders" effect is amplified by a mundane Moon-Sun conjunction (0°09'). There is bad mojo coming out of this summit.

June 30 to July 16 is a SATURN-URANUS-PLUTO Zone. With Uranus conjunct Cansolar Moon, Saturn conjoins Capsolar Moon (exact July 14). Such periods always bring hardship, sacrifice, loss, and sadness from (often nearly daily) deadly tragedies. These can assume many forms (itemized in our standard reference). For this fortnight-plus, events include bubble-bursting forced confrontations with harsh reality and highly polarized political tensions and face-offs. (Unfortunately, all those facts together suggest tragic events that bring gun control back to the tabletop.)

July 17-26, as Uranus' transit expires with the old Cansolar, remains a SATURN-PLUTO Zone. The same basic Saturn-Moon message continues with a different surrounding quality: Harsh, dramatic tragedies or hardship (sometimes with an apocalyptic tone) bring profound feelings of irrevocable loss or separation. Do not overlook deadly weather events as possible outcomes.

SHORT-TERM (Lunar Ingress) PATTERNS

Caplunar (Jun 29)
The Caplunar covers June 29 to July 26, especially the first week, June 29 to July 6. The indices are unusually neutral though disquieting: Moon is 0°21' from IC, Pluto 1°30' from square Ascendant.

Angular Moon appears in other charts this month. It shows powerful arising of the herd-mind, the collective response of the masses ("the people"). For example, Moon is common during populist uprisings, when the mass-mind will of the populace stands against central authority. It appears for other types of events that occur in locations where the masses herd or convene, and marks times when people feel strongly about things and say of events, "Our hearts go out to" those involved. Children are commonly at the center of such events.

Pluto angular appears in several layers of this month's stack. It marks unusually powerful, high-impact events, especially involving separations or severing connections. With Moon involved, we suspect confrontations between mainstream and counter-establishment sensibilities.

It is unclear exactly what sort of events these will be, though the rest of the chart gives mild hints. Mercury and Uranus are widely foreground, suggesting news, information, discovery, and disclosure, or perhaps that the most significant developments involve technology. In a chart unusually devoid of aspects, the Mercury/Pluto midpoint on the meridian may be the clearest signal: It shows major collisions, whether of information, communication, or vehicles. (Collisions of ideas are most common.) Consequences of events stun the intellect, perhaps so powerfully that they reframe how people think about things.

Saturn transits Capsolar Mercury on CapQ MC 6/28-29. If it hasn't ripened in the hours before this Caplunar begins, it will mark a crisis involving communication, engagement, or transportation, perhaps directly placing the media in the cross-hairs. For the July 4 holiday (and the day before), CapQ Ascendant squares Pluto.

Arilunar (Jul 6)
The Arilunar covers July 6-26 - the rest of the Sidereal month. It is a confusing time: Neptune is about 1° from Ascendant. Something happened the week before that leaves people wondering, and asking aloud, "So, what happens now?" (The last Neptune wave of this type was in the immediate aftermath of President Trump's election in November 2016).

The usual Neptune symptoms abound: the madness of the crowd, confusion, uncertainty, and disorientation. Deception is afoot. Strong feelings overflow. Facts should not necessarily be trusted or, rather, they aren't what's most relevant at the moment.

Washington has another important aspect configuration that, being mundane, does not exist for the rest of the world. Moon conjoins Uranus within 0°02'. Both square Saturn. These duplicate transits described under The Bridge and make world-impacting themes distinctive to Washington more than the rest of the world.

Moon-Saturn marks times of hardship, loss, sadness, and death. Moon-Uranus, the most common Moon aspect across all types of disasters, shows the sudden, explosive, eruptive, and shifting. It seems impossible (given the Bridge, the Caplunar, and this Arilunar) that a major natural disaster will not occur during these three weeks.

Especially before July 17 (i.e., while Moon-Uranus and Moon-Saturn transits co-exist for the world) it seems that the symbolism of Saturn + Uranus is the most important. Together they signify loss + explosion, with a bubble-bursting forced confrontation with harsh reality. Expect tension; wide swings between various opposites (e.g., freedom-restriction, liberality-conservatism, and struggle between forces of change and the status quo).

July 7, CapQ Asc crosses ingress Uranus, triggering the startling and, perhaps, revelatory. It seems forshadowing: On 7/12, CapQ MC crosses Pluto (opposed by transiting Sun), as Q Asc crosses transiting Uranus, marks of a psychologically explosive event. - CanQ MC crosses Neptunes on 7/6 and 7/8, so these are days on which Neptune indices of the week will concentrate: That on 7/6 is tragic and heart-rending, as Neptune and Saturn cross CanQ angles together, with a Venus-Neptune emphasis suggesting another tragic mass shooting.

Canlunar (Jul 13)
The Canlunar, which nominally covers July 13-19, is dormant. The Arilunar flows through.

It's also dormant for Helsinki; but, for Moscow, the partile Sun-Pluto opposition falls with Sun 0°12' from MC, Pluto 1°23'. We have so little information on deep circumstances in Moscow, it is difficult to asses exactly how this will manifest. The focus is clearly on those in power, though this aspect most often signals they are under assault, with rebellion against current political norms and an element of disrespect for an disobeying the laws. Perhaps it signals unusually loud protests, but I doubt that's all.

No quotidian crossings this week.

Liblunar (Jul 19)
The Liblunar, which nominally covers July 19-26, is dormant. The Arilunar flows through. The Liblunar adds only a Moon-Sun square which, directs attention worldwide more specifically at solar themes. While this likely, in some regions, reflects specific focus on the head of state or national government in general, its meanings are quite varied. One Moon-Sun theme is accentuated attention on cyclic phenomena such as increased variability in stock markets.

July 19, CapQ MC crosses ingress Sun-Venus, providing a day that promises progress in peace. On 7/20., transiting Jupiter crosses: It should be a day of victories and prosperity. Venus crosses again on 7/21 and Jupiter on 7/24, so the week has a string of positive markers.

SIDEREAL LUNAR RETURN (Jun 26)
President Trump's recent SLR continues into the new astrological month with Sun opposite Saturn (0°14' in mundo) in the immediate foreground, with both closely square his natal Neptune (and more widely aspecting his Mercury). Pluto is 0°19' from Eastpoint.

This is a dire chart for his authority and well-being. It could be even the point of his fall. He is weakened, probably betrayed, certainly impeded. With stationary transiting Mars aspecting his foreground natal Sun (0°17'), he is under attack.

In the middleground, transiting Mercury conjoins natal Venus (0°12'). Somewhere in here, a deal can be made.

SNQ MC conjoins progressed Pluto and squares transiting Jupiter 6/29: If he survives this day unscathed, it will be due to lucky breaks and close escapes. On 7/1, SNQ Asc squares Mars as its MC conjoins progressed Mercury. July 6-7 are his luckiest days, with transiting Jupiter angular.

Sun opposes Pluto, both in mundane square to a rising Uranus. This marks a turning point with changes and displacements. These aspects are a powerful challenge to his authority. While they also could mean that the president himself is the active agent of unprecedented, sweeping changes, Sun-Pluto also closely squares his natal Jupiter: The environmental demand for sweeping change directly impacts his dignity, esteem, rank, or wealth. Though the aspects are sufficiently neutral to potentially have a positive spin, they occur as transiting Mars is the closest planet to an angle: If they show wins, the wins come from combat and leave scars.

Several other aspects give mixed messages around these themes. A stationary Jupiter, moderately angular, squares natal Saturn (which Pluto more widely opposes), which could mean a second chance or clean start. Angular Mars opposes natal Pluto about 3° (Pluto also is angular), showing the eruption of charged issues involving anger, sex, dominance, and some sort of harm. Two transits show advantage gained from cutting ties; others are consistent with saying good-bye and sacrificing personal connection.

On balance, these aspects seem to show heightened political squabbling with much horse trading, as the stakes increase and things of value are placed on the line - if not on the chopping block.

Because of the president's extensive travelling during this time (and frequently shifting geographic location), predictions based on quotidians are unreliable.

This will be an unusually fortunate month for President Trump - far kinder to him than the Saturn-driven prior month. Jupiter months show gains in luck, esteem, opportunity, and prosperity, and this is the SLR's strongest factor.

Jupiter's transit to Pluto is best known for providing gains from separation or loss. Energies are freed from old entanglements and available for new purpose. Unwanted ties or commitments are dissolved. It could be as slight as taking a vacation - a much-needed "get away" - or a more substantial turning point. Natal Uranus foreground (though weakly) reinforces his need for freedom and breaking his ordinary patterns. (The biggest turning points of the Lunar return month are in its second half.)

July 25, SNQ Asc squares his Mars so, again, his aggressions are unleashed.

Geographic areas centered on map lines have a roughly 150-200 mile leeway (3°) for strong effects. For these mappings of planetary energies, see standard interpretations in Chapter 8 of Sidereal Mundane Astrology. (A link to the free current edition can always be found near the top of the Publications sub-forum.) Readers may wish to consider all planet lines and intersections against the standard interpretations.

[This section is provides the raw components from which forecasts are drawn, to give a quick visual overview and make it easier to see when lunar ingresses echo patterns already stated within operative solar ingresses.]

In recent months we have been exploring whether transits to all Capsolar planets are valid. Inherently, these would not be locale-specific, and I began with low expectations. - Preliminary conclusions from the first months of watching is that they are indeed important identifiers for locales where the 'natal' planet was angular in the Capsolar.

t Saturn conj. Capsolar Mercury START to July 16 (exact July 2)
t Pluto conj. Capsolar Pluto July 2 to END
t Saturn conj. Capsolar Saturn July 23 to END

Mid-month, President Trump will travel to Brussels for a NATO meeting July 12, then to Helsinki for a summit with President Putin July 16. These add additional layers to his SLR and Demi-SLR (which, however, are both expected to set up in Washington.

For Washington, highlights of what we expect from the June 26 SLR include:

This is a dire chart for his authority and well-being. It could be even the point of his fall. He is weakened, probably betrayed, certainly impeded, and under attack. Nonetheless, with a middleground Mercury-Venus transit, there is a deal can be made somewhere.

For Brussels, where he is expected to encounter resistance and attack, Uranus exactly rises (partile), and a bit of Jupiter. Things go better than expected for him - some surprises dominate the meeting - but (given a severe pattern of mundane aspects in the SLR) his relationship with our historic Allies remains severe and treacherous.

For Helsinki, natal Sun rises exactly (bringing Moon and Uranus with it). This shows him unusually strong and enjoying the spotlight. This is important to him, because the world will be watching to see if he appears subservient to Putin; he does not. But the SLR itself has Moon-Sun-Saturn (foreground mundane opposition) is severe so, in general, he brings his problems with him from Washington to that meeting: It is at least a struggle, and probably does not go well for him.

For Washington, highlights of what we expect from the more immediate July 11 Demi-SLR include:

Combat - especially being attacked - is the loudest theme. The chart shows a turning point with changes and displacements, and a challenge to his authority. While the chart could mean that the president himself is the active agent of unprecedented, sweeping changes, the environmental demand for sweeping change directly impacts his dignity, esteem, rank, or wealth. Though tthe aspects are sufficiently neutral to have a positive spin: They show that if he scores a win, the win come from combat and leave scars. On balance, aspects show heightened political squabbling with much horse trading, as the stakes increase and things of value are placed on the line - if not on the chopping block.

For Brussels, Mars is setting (the most angular planet). It opposes his Pluto. He is indeed under attack, zeroing in on his vulnerabilities. The best outcome for him is a fierce power struggle in which he looks strong. Another outcome is that, confronted with abundant hostility and resistance, he simply flees, finding the best excuse that saves face.

For Helsinki, things look much better for him, though still the attacks continue. Mars is partile square MC, though Venus closely rises with support from Jupiter and Uranus. Mars opposes his Pluto, as mentioned above. Natal Mars is exactly rising. He basks in a more congenial, luxury setting than in Brussels, he conflict and "size matters" comparative measuring mark his interaction with the powerful U.S. opponent he will meet.

Saturn transits Capsolar Mercury on CapQ MC 6/28-29. If it hasn't ripened in the hours before this Caplunar begins, it will mark a crisis involving communication, engagement, or transportation, perhaps directly placing the media in the cross-hairs.

This, written weeks ago, is eerily precise for yesterday's events in Annapolis - on one of the two days marked, "in the hours before this Caplunar begins." I'll admit to having the feeling write, though also will admit that I wasn't consciously thinking of anything so painfully literal.

Caplunar (Jun 29)
The Caplunar covers June 29 to July 26, especially the first week, June 29 to July 6. The indices are unusually neutral though disquieting: Moon is 0°21' from IC, Pluto 1°30' from square Ascendant.

Angular Moon appears in other charts this month. It shows powerful arising of the herd-mind, the collective response of the masses ("the people"). For example, Moon is common during populist uprisings, when the mass-mind will of the populace stands against central authority. It appears for other types of events that occur in locations where the masses herd or convene, and marks times when people feel strongly about things and say of events, "Our hearts go out to" those involved. Children are commonly at the center of such events.

Pluto angular appears in several layers of this month's stack. It marks unusually powerful, high-impact events, especially involving separations or severing connections. With Moon involved, we suspect confrontations between mainstream and counter-establishment sensibilities.

It is unclear exactly what sort of events these will be, though the rest of the chart gives mild hints. Mercury and Uranus are widely foreground, suggesting news, information, discovery, and disclosure, or perhaps that the most significant developments involve technology. In a chart unusually devoid of aspects, the Mercury/Pluto midpoint on the meridian may be the clearest signal: It shows major collisions, whether of information, communication, or vehicles. (Collisions of ideas are most common.) Consequences of events stun the intellect, perhaps so powerfully that they reframe how people think about things.

Hundreds (at least 750) of marches nationwide against the current policy of taking babies and small children from their mothers while the mothers are denied their right under law to apply for asylum and are called criminals and coerced to plead guilty to a misdemenor they didn't commit. These are large, but peaceful marches, for now.

Are these happening today? I knew they were happening a week ago, and the charts did seem like that story is continuing (even into the new Cansolar in a few weeks), but I hadn't actually heard about them since a week ago.

If you're saying that they're happening today, that's a big coup for astrology!

SIDEREAL LUNAR RETURN (Jun 26)
President Trump's recent SLR continues into the new astrological month with Sun opposite Saturn (0°14' in mundo) in the immediate foreground, with both closely square his natal Neptune (and more widely aspecting his Mercury). Pluto is 0°19' from Eastpoint.

This is a dire chart for his authority and well-being. It could be even the point of his fall. He is weakened, probably betrayed, certainly impeded. With stationary transiting Mars aspecting his foreground natal Sun (0°17'), he is under attack.

It might have been more useful to him to wire Cohen money for his legal expenses.

Trump can certainly afford this expense.

And while there are some people's expenses that would bring him under extreme scrutiny if he paid, even I (a severe Trump critic) couldn't fault him for paying extraordinary legal expenses of a long-term employee who has the expenses because of his term of employment.

Trump is a well-known cheapskate who doesn't pay people who work for him. Then he gets mad when they aren't "loyal" to him. Not being loyal includes taking him to court to get the money they're owed. Man who worked for Trump lived across the street from me 40 years ago. Thought working for Trump gave him bragging rights or something. He lost his house when Trump wouldn't pay him or people he'd hired to work on construction crews for Trump.

Sun opposes Pluto, both in mundane square to a rising Uranus. This marks a turning point with changes and displacements. These aspects are a powerful challenge to his authority. While they also could mean that the president himself is the active agent of unprecedented, sweeping changes, Sun-Pluto also closely squares his natal Jupiter: The environmental demand for sweeping change directly impacts his dignity, esteem, rank, or wealth. Though the aspects are sufficiently neutral to potentially have a positive spin, they occur as transiting Mars is the closest planet to an angle: If they show wins, the wins come from combat and leave scars.

Several other aspects give mixed messages around these themes. A stationary Jupiter, moderately angular, squares natal Saturn (which Pluto more widely opposes), which could mean a second chance or clean start. Angular Mars opposes natal Pluto about 3° (Pluto also is angular), showing the eruption of charged issues involving anger, sex, dominance, and some sort of harm. Two transits show advantage gained from cutting ties; others are consistent with saying good-bye and sacrificing personal connection.

On balance, these aspects seem to show heightened political squabbling with much horse trading, as the stakes increase and things of value are placed on the line - if not on the chopping block.

Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein disclosed that he told Trump at the start of this week - meaning, approximately July 9 - of the Russian agent indictments that were coming down. This was a couple of days before his Demi-SLR when the following was his primary return chart:

SIDEREAL LUNAR RETURN (Jun 26)
President Trump's recent SLR continues into the new astrological month with Sun opposite Saturn (0°14' in mundo) in the immediate foreground, with both closely square his natal Neptune (and more widely aspecting his Mercury). Pluto is 0°19' from Eastpoint.

This is a dire chart for his authority and well-being. It could be even the point of his fall. He is weakened, probably betrayed, certainly impeded. With stationary transiting Mars aspecting his foreground natal Sun (0°17'), he is under attack.

In the middleground, transiting Mercury conjoins natal Venus (0°12'). Somewhere in here, a deal can be made.

I don't kbow how long this might last, but today was a severe day for Trump - whether he k ows it or not. We can speculate all we want on what happened behind closed doors today, but what happened in the outside world is unambiguous. Leading congressional Republicans criticized him in numbers and with candid precision like never before. Online, I've seem committed Republicans and independents who voted for Trump assailing him and calling for Blue victories in the fall. It is at least the tone of the day.

Read what I wrote about his current SLR and Demi above, and the special se tion on Helsinki. I think it's all there.

Trump's 2018 SSR is killing him, along with his current SLR, no doubt he is feeling these very malefic influences. IMO, I think the Solar Eclipse falling on the Capsolar MC timed perfectly the political mundane negative events which exploded surrounding Trump.

Caplunar (Jun 29)
In a chart unusually devoid of aspects, the Mercury/Pluto midpoint on the meridian may be the clearest signal: It shows major collisions, whether of information, communication, or vehicles. (Collisions of ideas are most common.) Consequences of events stun the intellect, perhaps so powerfully that they reframe how people think about things.

It just occurred to me that this is actually a good description of what's hppening with Trump's zig-zagging on the "Russia culpable" thing. "Collisions of information" abound, though most of them are between varying things Trump himself says on the same subject from day to day - and everything since Monday has definitely reframed how large segments in the nation and in Congress think. More or less all the words used above apply to this (which, in a month that already had family separations and infant incarceration, a NATO meeting, Trump dissing the queen of England, and a U.S.-Russia leader summit has managed to become a dominant story).

LOL, then on top of it add the following, again with the Trump zig-zag in mind. (You can't make this stuff up!)

Arilunar (Jul 6)
...It is a confusing time: Neptune is about 1° from Ascendant. Something happened the week before that leaves people wondering, and asking aloud, "So, what happens now?" … The usual Neptune symptoms abound: the madness of the crowd, confusion, uncertainty, and disorientation. Deception is afoot. Strong feelings overflow. Facts should not necessarily be trusted or, rather, they aren't what's most relevant at the moment.